The Department of Human Services (DHS) consists of eight major divisions, plus the office for a fund run by a commission, an office directed by a Governor's Council, and various administrative offices that handle such areas as quality control, risk management, investigations, information systems, licensing and contracts which span the department.

Major Divisions...

Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CBVI) - promotes and provides services in the areas of education, employment, independence and eye health. It provides specialized services to persons with vision problems; educates and works in the community to reduce the incidence of vision loss; and works to improve attitudes concerning people with vision loss.

Division of Aging Services (DoAS) - The FY’13 budget transferred senior supports and services from the Department of Health to the Department of Human Services. This creates a single point of access for seniors and people with disabilities and their caregivers regardless of Medicaid eligibility and allows for a continuum of coordinated and integrated disability and long-term supports and services which will improve health outcomes, deliver appropriate care in appropriate settings and create the opportunity and the ability for aging adults to remain at home for as long as possible, with proper community-based supports.

Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH) - DHS' smallest division with only nine employees, advocates for people in NJ who are Deaf or hard of hearing, a number estimated to be as high as 720,000. It assists consumers in numerous ways to gain access to programs, services and information routinely available to others.

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) - is a large division that serves more than 25,000 people with developmental disabilities including the following conditions: intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, spina bifida, traumatic brain injuries and certain neurological impairments. Another 1,500 consumers live in five state-run Developmental Centers (DCs).

Division of Disability Services (DDS) - provides information and referral services to people with disabilities and their families, focusing on people who have become disabled as adults, whether through illness or injury. Such conditions are also called late-onset disabilities. DDS also is responsible for overseeing various Medicaid home-and community-based waiver programs that are designed to help people with disabilities live as independently as possible.

Division of Family Development (DFD) - provides leadership and supervision to the public and private agencies that deliver financial aid and support services to individuals and families. Its primary task is to direct the state's welfare program, WorkFirst NJ and Food Stamps - a federally-funded food assistance program for low-income families administered by county and certain municipal welfare departments. DFD provides funding, information management services and administrative support. It also oversees Child Care, Child Support and other assistance programs.

Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) - The State of New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget formally merged the Division of Mental Health Services (DMHS) and the Division of Addiction Services (DAS) into the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). The merger provided DHS an opportunity to build a combined system on the foundational strengths of both divisions. The operational efficiencies benefit both consumers and providers. DMHAS utilizes data from emerging science to offer effective, outcome oriented treatment and use its resources to support consumers in achieving wellness and recovery.

'Allocated within' the Department

Two important units are 'allocated within' the Department, which means that while they operate administratively as units in DHS, their work is directed by a governing body, such as a Commission or Council.

Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF) - is run wholly by its CICRF Commission and paid for with the fees gathered from state employers, who contribute $1.50 per employee to the Fund. This means CICRF is not paid for with tax money; and it independently screens and distributes the bulk of these fees to families facing catastrophic medical expenses for their children.

Office on Autism - provides a centralized place to address issues associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within the Division of Developmental Disabilities. OOA identifies and works with staff in sister state agencies to develop plans of service coordination for persons with ASD. The office promotes, disseminates and coordinates best practices in the training of staff and other supports to people with ASD as well as autism awareness training to community entities.

Office of Program Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) works collaboratively to strengthen and integrate best and promising practices in the operations of the Department of Human Services. OPIA has direct responsibility for incident investigations, licensing of human services programs and facilities, and ensuring fiscal and program accountability of community programs and departmental units.

Office of Licensing (OOL) - operates under the Office of Program Integrity and Accountability and is the licensing and regulatory authority of the DHS. The OOL regulates, inspects and provides technical assistance to programs serving persons with mental illness, substance use disorder, developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries. Its licensing and regulatory process supports the provision of a safe environment in which consumers receive services appropriately.

Office of Contract Policy and Management (OCPM) - is responsible for managing contracting policies that impact all of the contracting departmental/divisional components in DHS although each divisional component manages and processes its own contracts. OCPM develops, publicizes, reviews and monitors policies.

Office of Information Systems (OIS) - is responsible for implementing and managing DHS Information Technology (IT) strategy. OIS works toward leveraging common information technologies and a common infrastructure to allow for data sharing and collaboration among the Divisions, the Institutions, other Departments, and our social service extranet partners. This approach provides the dual benefit of making the entire DHS operation more cost-effective while maximizing service access and delivery capability to clients and beneficiaries.